XR2206 Signal Generator DIY kit

If you are looking for a simple signal generator kit that is inexpensive and can be built in less than an hour, then this kit is for you!

An impressive addition to your existing electronics lab.

Please note that it does not replace a professional function generator, but it still looks quite handy for electronics hobbyists/makers to repair/debug certain projects. This is definitely a gadget from which you will learn a lot and have fun with.

A function generator is an indispensable part of an electronics lab, but unfortunately very expensive for the average electronics hobbyist. The most popular (and cheap) DIY Chinese kit on the market is the one based on the handy function generator chip XR2206.

This easy-to-build 1Hz-1MHz XR2206 function generator kit enables many different routine measurements and experiments, and offers sine, square, and triangle output waveforms of fair quality with moderate stability and accuracy. More than sufficient for a small home electronics hobby lab!

When you purchase this DIY kit, it requires a bit of soldering and you get everything needed to complete the project. The package includes mounting hardware and an instruction leaflet that I am sure most makers will be able to follow. Fortunately, the kit comes with through-hole components, and there are legends on the double-sided PCB that clearly tell you where to mount and solder each part. In addition, there is also a good quality socket for the XR2206 chip, nice caps for the jumpers, and knobs for the potentiometers.

Kit construction instructions:

The construction will be a breeze if you know what you are doing! As usual, solder all low-profile components one by one first and finally solder the IC socket. Remember to pay close attention to the polarity of electrolytic capacitors and the orientation of the XR2206 IC. Cut the leads of all components as short as possible to prevent accidental short circuits.

Quick test tips

When the build is complete and you are ready to start using the function generator, pay attention to the polarity of the power supply. Then apply 9-12V DC (9V typical) through the DC input.

Short the lower two pins (Tri/Sin) of the waveform selection jumper
Short the upper two pins (65K-1M) of the frequency selection jumper
Turn the fine-tune potentiometer knob to fine-tune the signal frequency
Turn the coarse-tune potentiometer knob to coarsely adjust the signal frequency
Turn the amplitude potentiometer knob to adjust the amplitude of the output signal

For the power supply, you can use a 6F22 9V battery, as the total current consumption at 9V is very low. However, if you use a 9V-12V (never more than 12V) power supply, make sure it is a stable type with very low output noise and ripple. After a successful build and the first test, you can choose to place the XR2206 in a specially designed case (sold separately OT3631)

Please note that the square wave output does not go through the amplitude control. Only the amplitude of the sine/triangle waves can be adjusted with the knob (and is also affected by the input supply voltage).

The XR2206 function generator DIY kit is truly a cheap and easy-to-build kit that can be handy for most beginners and electronics enthusiasts. Produces almost perfect square, sine, and triangle waveforms.

We recommend our USB soldering iron for soldering this kit.

Dimensions
Length: 6.3cm
Width: 4.5cm
Height: 1cm